Man accused of injuring child

WHITEHOUSE – According to a police affidavit, a Tyler man was taken into custody on Monday after an 11-month-old was discovered with numerous bruises on the child’s face, scalp, back, and sides. Joshua Moses Kelm, 30, of Tyler, was charged with child injury after police looked into several incidents where the child had unexplained bruises after spending time with Kelm.

The affidavit states that on May 26, just after midnight, police were initially called to the 100 block of Nunn Street due to a fight between Kelm and the mother of the child. The mother told officers she did not want to leave the child with Kelm as the child always received bruises when left in Kelm’s care. Neither in-person nor during the review of bodycam footage did the officers notice any bruises that evening.

The affidavit states that Kelm and the woman denied officers access to the child when Child Protective Services later requested a welfare check that same day. The baby was “falling everywhere” while learning to walk, according to both Kelm and the mother.

A court order to remove the child from the home was carried out on May 27. After the child was brought to the hospital, 14 pictures showed bruises on the right flank, lower back, neck, shoulder, jaw, left ear, and spine. Kelm was booked into the Smith County Jail. Jail records show his bond has not yet been set.